Compare towns
Pelham vs Lawrence vs Salem vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Pelham | Lawrence | Salem | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,449Lowest |
88,736Highest |
30,964 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Salem and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Lawrence and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #48 of 120 in NH | #278 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Lawrence | Salem School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Lawrence High School | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
13.6Highest |
11.2 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.